High-tension-current system.



R. RAINES.

HIGH TENSION CURRENT SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.9, 1912.

Patented iul 14, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

an uwnlioo Mir/mu! /in 1/1105.

q/vfimmow 3101mm) MINES, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

nxon-rnnsion-cunnnnr SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters I'atcnt.

Patented July 1914.

Application filed March 9, 1912. Serial No. 682,723.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, RICHARD RAINES, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York, in. the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in "High- Tension-Current Systems, of which the following is a specification.

,This invention relates to improvements in high tension current systems and has particular application to systems of this type for igniting the gases of explosive engines, although it is to be understood that the useful application of my invention is not confined to'this particular purpose, as the same may be advantageously used wherever it is desired to employ high tension electric currents.

In carrying out the present invention, in the present instance, it is my purpose to provide a system of generating and transmitting high tension electric currents, that is currents of a relatively high voltage, by means of which the gases of explosive engines, such as hydrocarbon gas mixed with air, used in gas and naphtha engines, may be exploded to cause the expansion of such gases to drive the piston of the engine, such system involving primary and secondary circuits and a' circuit interrupting device in the primary circuit and adapted to break the primary circuit at predetermined intervals, such device being adjustable to vary the interval of breaking of the primary circuit so as to retard or advance the spark in the engine, according to the cycle of operation of such engine. Furthermore, I aim to provide a system of the type set forth which shall include a magneto or dynamo electric machine and a transformer having its primary circuit in series with the armature of such machine and its secondary circuit terminating in sparking points arranged within the engine cylinders, a circuit interrupting device being interposed in the primary circuit and driven from the armature ofthe magneto to effect the make in the primary circuit at certain periods relative to the position of the engine piston, such interrupting device embodying means operable to close the circuit at predetermined intervals and adjustable to close such circuit sooner or later relative to the cycle of operation ofthe engine whereby to advance or retard the spark.

It is also my purpose to provide a system of this character wherein the circuit in the magneto may be made at certain intervals,-v for instance in a bipolar machine, once in each rotation of the armature, the time at which the circuit is made bein relative to the position of the ar 1 ature wit im the field .and the duration of the'complet-ion of such circuit being variable according to the current pulsations required to produce the desired length, intensity, and duration of spark. As to the time at which the circuitis made the desired results can only beproduced by efl'ecting each make of the cirs cuit at a point in the rotation of the arma ture when it has passed its medial position between the poles of the field and has entered into the following one from which it is receding, the exact point being variable and determined according to the particular spark effect which it is desired to produce.

The farther the armature has receded from its medial position when the make is eflected, the greater the intensity of the sparkwhich can be produced. The duration of each make of the circuit may be varied in different machinestocorrespond to the time required for rotating the armature to travel through for about one degree to twenty degrees of its pat-h of rotation, accordingto the efliciency of the interrupter employed and the nature of the pulsation required to give the desired spark efiect.

\Vith the above and-other objects in view, I

the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompany ng drawings I have disclosed one preferred and practical embodiiuent of my invention and in these drawings; Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a magneto electrical machine constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through one end of the magneto showing the circuit interrupting device in elevation. Fig. 4c is a sectional view of a part of the interrupting device.

Similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, my improved high tension electric current system includes a magneto embodying a base of suitable conlaminated structure, such as the laminations 5 and (3, shown in Fig. 3. The opposite. ends of each magnet and the proximate ends of adjacent magnets are suitably fastened to oppositely disposed field pieces 7 and 8, which are preferably made of laminations of soft iron or the like, and have their inner opposing surfaces concaved as at 9, 9 to accommodate'the position and rotation of the armature of the machine.

Projecting upwardly from the base 1 and secured thereto in any suitable manner are spaced parallel standards lO and 11 embracing the field magnets at the opposite sides of the field, the standard being provided with an enlarged opening 12 while the standard 11 is formed with a small opening 13 and in this last named opening is mounted a bearing 14 of good conducting material, while in the enlarged opening 12 of the standard 10 is a bearing 15 constructed of insulating material and carried by the opposite ends of set screws 16 threaded through openings in the walls of the opening 12 in the standard 10 at diametrically j opposite points. These bearingsl i and 15 receive the'armature shaft 17 which shaft extends beyond itsres'pective bearing members and carries the armature designated as an entirety by the letter'A and supports the same for rotation within the field of the machine and between the pole pieces 7 and 8. Each of the pole pieces 7 and 8 is provided with spaced parallel tie rods 18 extending beyond the ends of such pieces and designed to enter slots 19 in the standards 10 and ll sons to hold the parts in as sembled position, nuts 20 being threaded onto the projecting extremities of the rods 18 for fastening purposes The armature preferably consists of a rectangular frame composed of the. side bars .21 and the end bars 22 bolted or otherwise secured together in frame formation and insulated one from the other as at 23. Threadedly engaging the side bars 21, 21

and extending between the same and prefer ably centrally of the end bars 22, 22 is a tube 24 carrying a core 25 formed of a bundle of soft iron wires, and encircling the tube 24 and in inductive relationto the core 25 is a bobbin 26 carrying a coil of wire adapted to receive currents from the core 25 in the rotation of the armature within the field, as will be readily understood. From this construction, it will be seen that in the rotation of the armature within the field, a positive rise and fall of th'e'current Within the armature is effected owing to the position of the core 25 with respect to the field pieces-7 and 8, thereby inducing in the armature a pulsating current which is at its maximum strength or capacity when the armature core is in a horizontal position or directly across the field, the rise and fall of such currents occurring when the armature enters and leaves the field, the current being at. its minimum strength when the core 25 is at right angles to the field or in a vertical position, it being understood of course that the terms horizontal and vertical positions are used in this instance for the sake of clearness and assumingthat the machine is in an upright position as shown in Fig. 1.

Fixed to the base 1 andin electrical contact therewith and projecting upwardly therefrom in proximity to the opening 12 in the standard 10, is a support 27 provided with an opening in which is arranged an insulated bushing 28 designed to receive the free extremity of the shaft 17 beyond the bearing 15, and arranged within the opening 12 of the standard 10, is an annulus 29 coaxial with the bushing 28 and formed with an outstanding flange or collar 30 designed to support the circuit interrupting device. This circuit interrupting device includes an annular housing or casing 31 rotatably mounted upon the collar 30 of the annulus and provided withv an outstanding annular flange 32 designed to' friction-ally engage the inner surface of the support 27, such support assisting the flange 30 m supporting the casing. Fixed to the casing 31 .at an appropriate point thereon and insulated therefrom, is a binding post 33 extending within the casing and carrying at its inner end a yieldable contact strip 34.

- Fixed to the inner side of the casing 31 in fproximity to the contact strip 34.- is an ear 35 in which is pivotally mounted an arm 36 carrying at its free end a laminated contact roller 37 adapted to engage the contact strip '24 at predetermined intervals in the rotation of the armature so as to effect the making or closing of the armature circuit.

order to actuhtc the roller 37 to make the circuit at certain intervals in the rotation of the armature and to bring about such closing of the circuit from the armature shaft, 1 utiliie a cam 38 composed preferably of a laminated structure and mounted upon the side of the armature shaft 17 within the casing 31 and insulated from such shaft as at 39. To rotate the shaft 17 and the cam 50 52 is connected to the outer surface of the while the terminals of theseeondary circuit License strips and the cam, the release of such bolts and nuts permitting the spring clips to disengage themselves f rom the grooves wh re by the can may be removedfrom the shaft. Eixed to the end of the shaft 17 within the hushin 28, is a binding post 43, which with t "e binding pos't 33, form the terminals of the armature circuit when such 'circuit is closed. 7

lnacc'ordance with the present invention, I make useof a transformer T which may be of any suitable or preferred construction and design and, embodies primaryand secondary windings or circuits, the terminals of the primary Winding being indicated at 44,45,

I or winding are indicated at 46, 47. Leading prom the terminal 44 of the primary circuit of the transformer is a conductor 48 terminally connected to the binding post43 of the ai'mature .shaft 17, and leading,from the terminal 45. of such transformer circuit is a conductor 49 terminally connected to the binding post 33 on the casing 31, thus arrangingthearmature' in series with the pri-' 4 mary-ci rcuitof the transformer. This circuit maybetraced as follows: from binding post '44 by wayof conductor 48, to the sideof the armature shaft 17 within the casing 31', thence through the respective end bar 22 of the arinatu're frame to the bobbin 26 of the armature through the medium of a conductor 50. whence the current is conveyed to the opposite endbar 22 of the armature frame by way of a conductor 51, and from this end bar of the frame the current is taken to the lower part of the standard 11 through the opposite side of the armature shaft 17,- thence through the base 1, support 27, casing 31, car and arm 35 and 36 respectively, and roller 37 so that when said roller is actuated to engage the contact strip34, the primary circuit of the transformer and the circuit through the armature are completed, thereby 46 energizing the primary circuit of the transformer and mduclng current in the secondary circuit of such transformer.

.-The casing 31 is adjustable about the cam 38 so as to vary the interval of closing the primary circuit, and for this purpose a lever casing 31 at an appropriate point. As the roller 37 and the binding post 33 are carried by the casing, it-follows that in the movement of. the casing, such roller and binding post will be, moved therewith, so that such roller may be adjusted relatively to the cam to cause the latterto actuate the roller to close the circuit to vary the time of such closing of the circuit according to the position of the armature within the field, and for another purpose which will presently a pear. Thus, the roller 37 may be moved a out the cam to be actuated to circuit closing position bysuch cam when the core 25 of cylinder being provided with a sparking.

device, such as a spark plug, one terminal of which spark plug is grounded upon the engine frame and the other terminal connected in circuit with the secondary circuit of the transformer. As the enginexis of the four cylinder type, it is necessary to employ a distributer so that the circuitto a particular, cylinder may be closed'at the proper time, usually when the piston of such cylinder is on the other side. of its dead center subsequent to compressing the gas to its maximum.

Secured to the standard 11 and insulated therefrom is a housing 53 provided with a bearing 54 coaxial with the bearing 14 of the standard 11 and'receiving this end of the armature shaft 17, such end of the armature shaft being connected up to the engine or other suitable driving mechanism by a belt wheel 55 or'the like. Arranged within the housing 53 and ,inthe present instance at right angles tothe armature. shaft, is a distributer shaft 56 mounted at one extremity ion within an insulated bearing 57 and carrying at its oppositeor free extremity a disk 58 constructed of insulating material, The shaft 56 adjacent to the disk 58 is revolubly mounted within a bracket-59 which bracket is secured to and. insulated from the standard-ll, but in electrical communication with the shaft 56. A plurality of binding posts 60 are carried by the housing 59 in proximity to the disk 58, four of such binding posts; being herein shown incident to the number of cylinders of which the engine is composed, and secured to the free ends of each binding post 60 within the housing 53 is a spring contact strip 61, such strips being successively engaged by a contact 62 carried by the disk 58 and electrically connected to the shaft 56 and operable to engage the strips 01 in the movement of the distributer shaft.

This distributer shaft 56 is preferably driven from the armature shaft 17 and in the present instance is provided with a worm wheel 63 keyed upon said shaft and insulated therefrom and meshing with a worm (34 upon the side of the armature shaft 17 within the housing 53 so that in the movement of the armature shaft rotary motion may be transmltted to the distributer shaftto rotate the disk 58 and engage the contact 62 carried by such disk with the contact strips 61 a a binding post 7 2' being connected by way of a wire 73 with the conductor 49 of the trans-,

on the binding posts 60, successively.

Leading from the binding post 47 of the secondary circuit of thetransformer is a conductor 65 terminally connected to the bracket 59, and leading from the binding post 46 of such transformer circuit is a conductor 66 grounded upon the frame of the engine E, while to each binding post of the distributer is connected a conductor 67 terminally connected to one of the sparking devices of a cylinder of the engine, so that in the movement of the distributer, the secondary circuit may be completed to energize the sparking devices of the cylinders successively and at the proper time. As the conductor 'of the secondary circuit of the transformer is in electrical communication with the bracket 59 and consequently 'dis-' tributer shaft 56 and the conductor 66 of such circuit of the transformer grounded upon the engine frame, thesecondary transformer circuit may be tracedas follows,

binding post 47, conductor 65, bracket and.

distributer shaft 59 and56 respectively, contact 62, one of the strips-61 and its cooperat-ing conductor 67, engine frame, conductor 66, and binding post 46, it of course being understood that the current is supplied to the respective engine cylinders one after the other and at the proper time according to the cycle of operation of the engine.

To retard or advance the spark within the engine cylinders, the casing 31 of the adjusted" circuit interrupting device is around the cam 38 so that the roller of such circuit closing device may be. acted upon sooner or later by the cam relative to the position of the piston within the engine cylinder, consequently causing the spark to be advanced or retarded according to the adjustment of the circuit closer.

In eventthat the engine should be composed of only one cylinder, the distributer may be eliminated, or should the engine be composed of two cylinders, a switch or distributer may be utilized embodying but two binding posts. In other words, the number of binding posts required for the distributor is dependent upon the number of cylinders employed in the engine, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In order to give an initial spark so that the explosive en ine may pick up its cycle of operation and actuate the magneto, should such engine and magneto be connected, I make use of an auxiliarycircuit which in this instance includes a battery 68 connected at one side to a binding post 69 by way of a conductor 70 and having its opposite side connected by a wire 71 to the conductor 48 of the primary circuit of the transformer,

terycircuit being completed when the switch is on the contact 75 through conductor '(0, binding post 69, switch, binding post 72, conductor 73,-the primary circuit of the transformer, thence back to battery by way of binding post 4.4, a portion of conductor 48 and wire 71.

In the event of my system being applied to an automobile, a system of levers and conmeeting rods may be employed and connected to the lever 52- of the circuit interrupting device so that such device may be operated from the 'drivers seat on the vehicle to ads ance and retard the spark.-

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and method of employing my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains; and while I have herein shown and described one preferred embodiment of my invention by way of illustration, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

'A circuit interrupting device comprising a cylindrical casing capable of rotary movement, contacts on the inner surface of said casing and normally spaced apart, a cam within said casing and composed of a laminated structure and adapted to actuate saidcontacts to circuit closing position, a shaft carrying said cam, and a rigid connection between said cam and shaft, said connection comprising spring fingers fastened to the opposite faces of said cam at diametrically opposite points and engageable in grooves formed in the adjacent part of the shaft of said armature.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD names."

Copies of this patent may be ebtaln edfor ave cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent'l.

' Washin -ion. It 6-- 

